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Electoral Reform
Hawkin's Electoral Refom Agenda for Clean and Fair Elections |
Abolish the Electoral College, Support Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)
Instant Runoff Voting is an electoral system where instead of voting for one candidate only, voters rank the candidates in order of their preference. As the ballots are read, the first choices are counted first. If a candidate obtains a majority, he or she wins; otherwise, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and the second choices on those ballots are transferred to the candidates still in the race. The counting goes on until there is a majority winner. In short, IRV is a series of "same day" runoffs that ensures that the majority of the voters at least nominally supports the winning candidate. IRV also eliminates the need for costly separate runoff elections. It enables voters to vote for whom they want, not for the lesser of two evils.
Proportional Representation
Proportional representation (PR) is an electoral system where voters of the same party win legislative seats in proportion to their share of the popular vote. Whereas the winner-take-all awards 100% of the representation to candidates that in some cases have even less than 50% of the vote, PR or full representation allows parties who have won the required % of votes, to have representation.
Count Every Vote
Start with Paper Ballots. In the last two Presidential elections, only the Green Party fought to make sure that every vote was counted. We need to ensure vote counting is accurate and transparent, and that machines allow for IRV and PR voting. We need to make sure that the new voting machines have a publicly verifiable paper trail. Paper ballots are the safest way to count votes. We must also end the practice in many states of allowing the Democrats and Republicans to actually run the election – instead, we need nonpartisan, civil service oversight of all elections.
Same-Day Voter Registration
Enact same-day voter registration (SDVR). Voter turnout in state elections is low. When voters can register on the same day of an election, participation increases. In states with SDVR, voter turnout has increased by over 20% on average. Minnesota, one of only six states with SDVR, usually leads the nation in state voter turnout. Nearly 16% of Minnesotans who voted registered on Election Day.
Public Campaign Financing
We need a Clean Money, Clean Election system where candidates who obtain a certain number of small contributions have their campaign publicly financed. We need to end the system of legalized bribery that the US calls campaign contributions. Invariably people who donate tens of thousands of dollars to candidates are looking to buy access, to make it easier for them to obtain special tax breaks or government contracts. This wheeling and dealing costs taxpayers billions of dollars. A political donation is still the smartest investment that a Wall Street wheeler dealer can make. We will never get universal health care, affordable housing, or strong environmental protection without meaningful campaign finance reform.
Mandatory Public Debates
When our country was founded, voter attendance at candidate debates was an integral part of the voting process. Now almost no debates are held and insurgent and third party candidates are routinely excluded. There should be at least 3 debates in all federal elections, with all ballot-qualified candidates participating. Free media coverage on our publicly-owned airwaves should also be provided to each candidate.
Voting Rights for Citizens with Felony
Currently, New York disenfranchises more than 131,000 New Yorkers -- due to state law stripping voting rights from citizens serving a prison sentence or on parole, due to a felony conviction. Maine and Vermont never strip away voting rights due to felony convictions. New York should follow suit and allow all of its citizens to vote.
Ensure fair ballot access
While minor party candidates for statewide office in New York must collect signatures from 5% of their enrolled voters, Democrats and Republicans need less than .05%. Furthermore, third parties in New York State need to obtain 50,000 votes in the Governor's race. This is an undue burden for minor parties, given the low turnout in state elections. IN addition, almost every other state allows you to create a political party during a Presidential year.
Initiatives and Referendums
Allow citizens to make and change laws through statewide initiatives and referendums (I&R). Unlike 23 other states, New York citizens do not yet have the right to put legal questions on the ballot for a vote. This should be accompanied by campaign finance reform so that special interests can't dominate the election.
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 *Website by David Doonan, Labor Donated to Hawkins for Senate Campaign* |
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